Automatic splicing device



July 28, 1936. H. A. w. WOOD AUTOMATIC SPLICING DEVICE original Filed Aug. 11, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l July 28, 1936. H. A. w. WOOD AUTOMATIC SPLICING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 11, 1931 July 28, 1936. '-H. A. w. WOOD 20,050

AUTOMATIC SPLICING DEVICE 7 Original Filed Aug. 11, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y 33 I w,

July 28, 1936. H. A. w. WOOD AUTOMATIC SPLICING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Aug. 11, 1931 Il w My 111 a a mm a a 1 h k n mm NM NY a h 2 II N v 7 g Q .n N Jr Q Q Q lg N h a W Q Q I 2. ml fi N 2 v N 2.

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' AUTOMATIC SPLICING DEVICE I Original Filed Aug. 11, 1931 5 Sheebs-Sheet 5 Reissued Julyi28, 1936 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC SPLICING DEVICE Henry A. Wise Wood, New York, N. Y., assig'nor to Wood Newspaper Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Virginia Original No. 2,032,244, dated February 25, 1936,

Serial No. 556,388, August 11, 1931.

Reissue No. 19,996, dated June 2, 1936, Serial No. 71,076, March 26, 1936. This application for reissue Ju ne 17, 1936, Serial No. 85,623

32 Claims. This invention relates to a type of mechanism which is used in splicing web rolls, such as those being fed to large newspaper presses, with no diminuation in speed of thepress.

The principal object of the invention is to provide for efficient automatic control of the paper roll handling device so that it is not necessary for the operator to attend to any of the operations incident to feeding 01f the paper or varying tension, his only duties being to remove the old cores, place in new rolls and prepare the forward end of these new rolls for splicing. This relieves the operator of any responsibility in watching the paper roll as it'is spliced or used ofi and insures the proper feeding of the paper to the press in a repetitive manner which makes for uniformity, thereby lessening paper breaks and permitting an operator to prepare more rolls since he is relieved of a large portion of his duties. Other objects of the invention are to provide simple means for shifting fromautomatic to socalled manual operation, to facilitate loading and to permit of more flexible operation: to provide simple means whereby a button can be pushed .at any time and a paster can be made whenever the reel operator decides that it is not safe to use part of the web that would be used if it were allowed to run until small enough for the butt switch lever to pass over its edge, and to provide f ormaking the splice automatically from a larger butt than usual.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism in which the incoming web roll is rotated to web speed and moved to its final splicing position and the web deflecting means is moved to its active position adjacent the run- 7 .ning web by certain preliminary operations, and

webroll size or automatically by means responsive to the web roll size to press the running web against the fresh roll and make the pastel. This permits the incoming web roll and the web defiec'tor parts, which, because of their mass, have considerable inertia, to be brought to their final positions preliminary to the actual pasting operation well in advance of the time at which the expiring web roll is reduced to the size at which replacement is necessary. In other words, the mechanism of the present invention permits the final web pasting or replacement operation to be timed correctly with relation to the size of the expiring web roll regardless of the indefinite and variable delays interposed by mov isadapted to carry three such paper rolls.

ing the heavy incoming roll and running web deflecting mechanism to their splicing positions. In the. appended claims, this feature of the invention has been defined in substantially the following language: A device adapted to operate after the fresh web roll has been placed in splicing position and has made more than one full revolution to permit the brush to press the running web against the fresh web roll to make a splice, or the expression, A push button so arranged in the circuit that it may be operated after the fresh web roll has been placed in splicing position and has made more than one full revolution to permit the brush to press the running web against the fresh web roll to make a splice."

Otherobjects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

20 Fig. 1 is an end view of a well-known reel for supporting paper rolls showing this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device:

Figs. 3 to 9 are small sketches showing the sequence of operation of this automatic device, and

Figs. 10 and 11 constitute the wiring diagram, which show the entire wiring of the machine.

In Fig. 2 the shaft is mounted in pedestals 46 adapted to be rotated by reel motor 48 driv- ;ing worm wheel 49. Spiders 50 carrying a multiplicity of rotatable spindles 5! for the mounting of paper rolls Rv are mounted on and slidably secured to the shaft 45. The embodiment shown Tenslon straps 52 are mounted in a conventional manner, one end being secured to the floor, the strap passing over idlers 53 with the other and carrying weights 55 It is understood, of course, that the stationary straps do not form a claim of my invention, except in combination, andthat running tension belts may be used as well; By rotating the reel into or out of the straps more or less tension may be applied to the web which is being fed from the paper roll in use As covered in my former application, Serial No. 443,083, filed April 10, 1930, now Patent No. 1,891,965, December 27, 1932, when one roll is nearly used up, the reel is in the position shown in Fig. 1 where a brush arm 56 is lowered by the counterclockwise rotation of segment 51 which is driven by a motor 58 through worm 59. Suitable stopswitches are provided for limiting the motion of this brush arm as will be described later.

of the butt, a pasting brush 59 over which the web travels is allowed to move forward through the action of a brush solenoid B tripping a latch 6| abutting a toe 62 so that springs 63 through spring rods 64, arms 65, shaft 66 and arms 66a press-the web against the new roll to pick up the paste-covered points, thereby making the splice.

-It will be understood that, as in my above identi fled application, the fresh web roll has previously been rotated on its own axis and brought up to web speed. This mechanism is not shown hereas it forms no part of this invention and may be operated independently.

After a certain length of paper has been fed off to insure splicing to the new roll, a knife 61,

through gear 68, segment 69 and solenoid 10 is rotated into the web, thereby severing the old sheet. After this is accomplished the motor 58 begins rotating in a reverse direction to that described above, lifting the brush arm mechanism to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. The reel 'then moves in a counterclockwise direction until the large new roll has sumcient contact with thetension straps 52 to insure proper tension at which point the reel stops. This position will be approximate to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The paper is fed off from this reel position until the roll is approximately one-half the original diameter, at which time the roll switch lever ll passes over the edge of the roll thereby allowing a spring 12 .to close contacts 2 and 45. Aswill be described later, this causes the reel to rotate to approximately the full line position shown in Fig. 1, from which position the paper is fed to the press until the roll becomes small enough to demand the lowering of the brush arm for another splice.

This automatic setting of the reel position performs two functions; it gives the proper surface contact of the tension straps on a large roll; and, positions the reel so that a magnetic clutch 83 is engaged to assist in retarding this roll suddenly in case of an emergency stop. This breaking force on the roll spindle is actuated only when the emergency buttonis pressed; Selector rings l2 for this braking assistance through the roll spindle are so arranged that as long as the full roll is above say a horizontal line through the reel center, pressing of the emergency button will engage the magnetic clutch on the. roll spindle to retardthis roll as the press slows down. If, however, the roll is below a horizontal line through the reel center the normal tension members 52 are then sufficient to stop the roll in proper relationshipwith the press on an emergency button. This device is so arranged that, by the automatic positioning of the reel, when the press is stopped with a small size roll this brakingthrough the spindle is not applied.

When the roll wears down to a certain predetermined size so that it is necessary to lower the brush arm this is done automatically by a' switch lever 13 passing over the edge of the roll allowing. spring 14 to close contacts 2 and I6.

. ,This causes the motor 58 to be energized to lower the brush arm to the proper position. Just as the motor 58, stops rotating, the reel begins tomove in, a counterclockwise direction until the surface of the incoming roll through an. arm (Fig. operates the monkey switch 81, at which time the roll is the proper distance from the brush. The operation of the monkey switch causes the reel to 'stop rotating. This satisfies one of three condi- -Fig. 3 shows the brush arm in the lowered posi-' .the control is manual or automatic, and is con- '25 which is equivalent to pressing the lower button in push button station 96.

tions necessary to. the operation of this mechanism.

The next condition is that the butt be a certain predetermined size and is satisfied when the switch lever passes over the edge of the paper 5 roll closing the contacts 34 and 35. This satisfies the second condition.

The third is that the pasted points on the incoming roll be in a certain angular position when the brush is released. This is accomplished by. contact on the incoming. roll, the making of which satisfies the last condition, allowing the brush to be snapped forward to press the web against the incoming roll. This completes'thecyele of operation and as will be described in conjunction with the wiring diagram,it will be seen that the whole operationis automatic.

The sequence of operations may be understood quite clearly from an inspection of Figs. 3to 9.

tion just after the paster has been made, when the brush is reset and the arm is being raised. Fig. 4 shows the brush arm raised to an inoperative position with the reel in running posf.on for a full size roll, the fresh roll being pressed against .the tension strap. Fig. 5 shows the same position with the roll used down to the point where switch lever 'H operates. Fig. G'shows the reel position a few seconds later when it has shifted so that the running roll is at the lowered position. Fig. 7 shows the roll used down until the switch lever 13 operates to. lower the brush. The web from the nearly exhausted roll now runs closely adjacent to the fresh roll. The'brush in its lowered positionis shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 shows the paster being made and the running stub leaving the tension straps while the fresh roll is about to engage them, in conjunction with Fig.3, which is next in sequence, completes the cycle of operation. M

In tracing out the wiring diagram, let it be considered that the reel is in the position shown in Fig. '7, at which point. switch lever 13 passes over the edge of the roll to close the contacts 2 and 46 to lower the brush arm 56 representing several contacts, each connected to one side of the line 2 and connected to, contact 46 through brush 42a. The current goes through the doublethrow switch I06, determining whether or not nected with the line 42 which energizes the con- ..tactor IS. The other side of the line is represented by l and several contacts directly con-- nected therewith. This closes contacts i and' Through line 25 which passes through a safety switch Tl, demanding that the reel be in the proper position before. the brush arm may be lowered, a contact is made with 22 which in turn through a limit switch 18 makes contact with line 22. Line 22 then runs, to contactor 19 thereby energizing it, since the other side of the contactor is connected to line 2. .This closes the contacts shown directly above contactor 19 to cause the lift motor 58 to rotate in such a manner as to bring thebrush arm down to the position shown in Fig.8.

The cam 80 is geared to and rotates with the brush arm except in the opposite direction. When the cam 80 has rotated to the position shown in Fig. 10, contacts 22 and 23 are opened thereby dropping out the power on contactor 19,- causing the lift motor 58 to cease rotation. Just ,as the cam 80 begins rotating in its clockwise direction, as the brush arm is lowered, contacts h from one side of the line I is transmitted through the line 20, through a rheostat 82 to line I6 which then goes into selector ring I2 and to slip ring I2a on the roll spindle and to one side of the magnetic clutch 83, the other side being connected to line 2. This energizes'the magnetic clutch which sets in motion the incoming roll.

Just before the cam 80 reaches the position shown in Fig. 10, contacts 2 and 34 in the switch 84 are made, the latter ccntact running to one side of a contactor 85 thereby energizing it since the other side of this contactor is connected to line I. This closes contacts 21a to and 34 to 35. The connecting of contacts 5 and 21a is equivalent to pressing the forward" button 2I-5, at push button station 95, causing the reel to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. This is apparent when line 21 is traced over to' contactor 86 one side of which is connected to line I and contact 5 is traced through monkey switch 81 where it is normally connected to line 2. The energizing of contactor 86 closes contacts I and 48, 2 and 39. This rotates the reel in a counterclockwise direction until the surface of the roll bears against a toe 810. which operates monkey switch 81. The operation of the monkey switch at this time disconnects contacts 2 and 5, consequently dropping out contactor 86 and stopping the reel motor, and makes contacts 3 and 4. This making of contacts 3 and 4 satisfies one condition demanded before a splice 'is made; namely, that the roll is the proper distance from the brush.

The second condition to be satisfied is that u the butt is the proper size as. determined by the operation of butt switch lever 15. After butt switch lever I5 slips over the edge of the roll to close contacts 34 and 35 the very next revolution of the incoming roll causes a circuit to be established from line 2 through brush 34 when the segment 2 comes in contact with it. This may be traced bak through the butt switch contacts 34 and 35 to selector ring 35 and brush 4 to the monkey switch where contacts 4 and 3 are connected through resistance 88 to contactor 89 the other side of which is connected to'line I. This energizes contactor 89 closing the contacts 2 and 4.

Simultaneously with the closing of contactor 88 a brush release solenoid 68 is tripped sending the brush and the web which it carries against the incoming roll to pick up the pasted points. It will be noticed that measuring relay solenoid 9| .is. also connected with lines I and 3 and energized at the same time. This releases a drum 92 on which are carried the several contacts shown so that these contactsrotate in direction relationship to the speed of the press.

When the drum 92 has rotated the proper distance to insure picking up the pastedpoints,

brush I5 contacts with thesmall segment connected to line I. This places one side of the line on contact I5 which may be. traced through to the knife solenoid 93, the other side of which is connected to line 2. This energizes knife solenoid 1,0 releasing the knife to sever the old web.

The rotation of the knife shaft 94 by a projection closes contacts I5 and 39 and by tracing contact 39 through the connection panel to selector ring 36, it will be seen that brake solenoid 55 is energized since its other side is connected to line 2. This places a brake on the butt to prevent its paying off excess paper after the cut is made. f

Simultaneous with the operation of the knife,

contact I9 of the measuring relay is connected with the segment on drum 82 which is connected to line I. Tracing through of contact I! will show that this is equivalent to pressing the raise button in push button station'BG. This connects one side of the line through limit switch 91 to contact 2I which runs to one side of contactor 98, the'other side being connected to line 2. The energizing of this contactor 88 closes the contacts shown just above to rotate lift motor 58 in a. direction to lift the brush arm. As the brush arm is lifted to the inoperative position, cam 80, then rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, opens contacts 2| and I9. This cuts oif .the source of power to contactor 98 thereby stopping the lift motor.

This raising of the brush arm undoes some of the things done as the brush arm was lowered. Thus, contacts I and 20 in limit switch 8| are broken, thereby deenergizing magnetic clutch 83. Before this is done, however, rheostat 82 performs its function of reducing the voltage on the magnetic clutch as the brush arm is being raised,

thereby releasing the tension caused by the magnetic clutch in a gradual manner. The final disengagement of the clutch, however, is through the opening of contacts I and 20 in limit switch BI and is caused by the rotation of the cam 80. Duringthe course of lifting the brush arm, monkey switch 81 is reset, thereby breaking contacts 3 and 4 which allows contactor 89 and solenoids B5 and 9| to be deenergized. Since contactor 85 is held in through its own contacts 34 and 35 the resetting of monkey switch 81, closing contacts 2 and 5, causes the reel motor 48 to rotate sending the reel in a counterclockwise direction. This continues until projection 98 on the reel spider contacts with a switch roller of a switch ISO to break contacts 2 and 35 This breaks the circuit feeding contactor 85 dro iiping it out thereby stopping the reel in the position shown-in.

Fig. 4.

Meanwhile the drum '82 has been rotating in direct relationship to the press. When the wedge-shaped segment which is connected to line I contacts with contact 26, one side .of the line is placed on this contact which may be traced to kicker solenoid IDI, the other side of which is connected to line 2. This energizes the kicker solenoid moving kicker I02 to such a position that it sets askew the pasted papers on the delivery.

Signal light' or lights I03 .are provided which may be placed at the delivery of the press in the mailing room or any other convenient place to announce that a paster has been made. -When" livery markedto distinguish them, and the new roll is running in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. -As long as the reel is in this position selector ring I2 contacts brush I'I. With the reel 'so positioned, in event of an emergency stop of the press, contactor I84 is energized, since the ter- :rninals are connected across the dynamic brake resistance of the press motor (not shown) closing contacts I and I1. Tracing through contact I! to selector ring I2 it will be found that thisenergized magnetic clutch 83 which takes a grip on the roll spindle assists the normal tension straps in bringing the roll to a stop in proper relation to the press without a sheet break. This particular feature I have covered in a former application, Serial No. 542,865, filed June 18, 1931. As the press uses paper, the size of roll R diminishes until lever I05 (similar to 'II) passes over the edge of the paper to close contacts 2 and 40. Contact 2, being one side of the power, may be traced through contact 40 to select-or ring I40, through brush 21a to double-throw switch I05 where it connects to line 21 and thence to one side of contactor 86, the other side being connected to line I. This energizes contactor 86 closing contacts to cause motor 48 to rotate the reel in a counter-clockwise direction. This con tinues until brush 21a passes off the right hand end of the selector ring I40 due to which contactor 86 is deenergized and the reel stops in the position shown in Fig. 6. In case of an emergency stop with the reel in this position contactor I04 is closed as before but brush 2111 then connects with a dead segment and therefore no completed circuit is established to the magnetic .clutch of any spindle, the tension of normal tension members 52 being suflicient to stop the roll properly.

Paper continues to be used from roll R until lever I01 (similar to 13) passes over the edge of switch, such as 34 and 35 which is normally operated by switch lever I5. This paste" button is provided so that the reel operator, when in his judgment the butt may not be safely used 'down to the point where the butt switch lever passes over the edge of the roll, may press it, shorting out the butt switch, and obtain the splice within one revolution of the incoming roll. In a former application, Serial No. 544,762, filed June 16, 1931, I have provided for adjustabiiity of this butt switch I5 so that an operator may judge the condition o the roll and regulate the switch to leave more or less paper on the butt accordingly. This "paste button provides still an additional regulation in that the splice may be made from a larger butt than the adjustablebutt switch would normally accommodate or permit an operator to quickly make a splice should something untoward or unexpected happen to or show up as the butt is being used.

A double pole, double throw, switch I06 is-provided to permit a shift from automatic to manual operation and back by simply'pushing a button. A shift'to manual control, through the opening of contact'42a, causes contactor 16 to become inoperative thus eliminating the automatic lowering of the brush arm; also, through the openingof contact 21a the automatic operation of the reel to its respective positions is eliminated. This latter feature is especially desirable since in the loading of rolls the reel is frequently moved back and forth to facilitate loading. After a new roll has been loaded the button marked Automatic is then pressed to remake contacts 21 and 21a, 42 and 42a, and. the device resumes its automatic operation as described above. It is, therefore, obvious that a splicing mechanism is-provided which automatically performs all the functions incident to splicing a web, including severing of the old web, braking the butt, lowering and lifting the brush arm, indicating the pasted papers on the delivery, and positioning the reel to provide proper tension of the automatic to so-called manual operation of the device to facilitate loading of the reel and to permit of more .fiexible operation.

It is entirely within the scope of this invention that additional switch levers, operating either against the end of the surface of the roll, be

used to cause the reel to be stopped at a greater number of operating positions or even that levers or contacts be operated from some such tension device as a floating roller to cause the reel to move into or out of the belts or straps in automatic response to changes of tension.

Although I have illustrated and described only one form of the invention 1 am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited in this respect, but what I do claim is:--

-l. In a web splicing machine, the combination with a reel for supporting web rolls and means for operating the reel to move the rolls, of electrically operated means for starting and stopping the operation of the reel in a predetermined order to bring the rolls successively into the several positions for the various operations of splicing to'take place, a kicker solenoid, and

means operated by said electrically controlled 7 means for energizing the kicker solenoid to set askew a product on the delivery at equal intervals.

2. In a machine for feeding a webto a printing machine and splicing it, the combination with a movable web roll support and means for operating it to move the web rolls, of means for controlling the motions of the support to bring the running rolls -successively and repeatedly from the running position into position to direct the web therefrom closely adjacent to a fresh roll preparatory to splicing the running web to the fresh roll, means for pressing the running web out of its normal path against the pasted fresh roll for splicing, means for controlling the last named means, means controlled by the first named electric means for starting the operation of the controlling means, and means for rendering the operation of the last named means inj operative, to permit hand operation thereof.

3. In a web feeding device, the combination with means for supporting a running roll and a fresh roll and means for operating it to move the rolls bodily, of means for controlling the operating means to bring the running roll successively into running position for the web therefrom to run closely adjacent to the surface of a fresh web roll in splicing position, means for pressing the web out of its normal path against the pasted fresh. roll, means whereby the diminution in diameter of the running roll will operatethe last named means automatically, a push button, and means controlled by the push button for rendering inoperative said last named automatic means for making a splice from a larger butt thanusual, when desired.

4. In a web supply mechanism, a support for a running web roll and a replacement roll, means for accelerating the replacement roll to a peripheral speed substantially equal to that of the running roll, means for pressing the running web against the replacement roll when in running position to make a web join, actuating means mounted on the support and operated automatically when the running roll approaches exhaustion, and a timer moving in synchronism with the replacement roll and adapted to cooperate with the said actuating means to control the operation of the pressing means to make the join.

5. In a web supply mechanism, a support for a 5 running web roll and a replacement roll having adhesive on its web end, a first actuating means operated automatically when the running roll is partially exhausted for operating the roll support to move the running roll away from running position and move the replacement roll to running position preparatory to making a web join, means for accelerating the replacement roll to a pe-;

ripheral speed substantially equal to that of the running web, web shifting means for moving the running web against .the replacement roll in running position, a second actuating means operated automatically when the running roll approaches exhaustion, and a timer moving in synchronism with the replacement roll and adapted to cooperate with said secondactuating means to control the operation of the shifting means to make the e join.

6. In a web supply m chanism, a web deflector,

means for moving the deflector into contact with the running web, a latch adapted to 'hold the deflector against a bias tending to force it toward the web, and electro-responsive means actuated by a reduction inthe diameter of a running roll and in running engagement therewith for releasing the latch.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of movable means for supporting a plurality of rolls of paper, means for driving a fresh roll having adhesive thereon to rotate the same and bring it up to the spec of the traveling web from an expiring roll, in ans for effecting contact of the rotating fresh roll and the traveling web from the expiring roll to make a pastor, and means for cutting off said web comprising a shaft, a cutting element thereon, ,a motor for turning said shaft, and means for automatically energizing said motor-to operate saidcutting element a predetermined and unvarying distance behind the paster.

8. In a machine for splicing a running web, the combination of a rotatable web roll support capable of supporting a plurality of web rolls including a running web roll and a fresh web/roll,

a pasting brush movable from inoperative position to an intermediate position, means for speeding up the fresh web roll, means for rotating the support to bring the fresh web roll to splicing position adjacent tothe runnning web and stopping rotation of thesupport, and a circuit completing device adapted to operate after the fresh web roll has been placed in splicing position and has made more than one full revolution to permit the brush to press the running web against the fresh web roll to make a splice. 9. In a machine for splicing a running web, the the combination of a rotatable web rolI support capable of supporting a plurality of web rolls including a running web roll and a fresh web roll, -a pasting brush movable from inoperative position to an intermediate position, means for v b speeding up the fresh webroll, means for rotating the support to bring the fresh web roll to splicing position'adjacent to the running web and stopping rotation of the support, a timer-moving in, synchronism with the fresh web roll: and a circuit 3 completing device adapted to operate after the fresh web roll has been placed in splicing position and has made more than one full revolution to permit the brush to press the running web against the fresh web roll to make a splice.

10. In a machine forsplicing a running. web,

the combination of a rotatable web roll support .ning web againstthe, fresh web roll to make a splice.

11. In a machine for splicing a running web, 25

the combination of a rotatable web roll support capable of supporting a plurality of web rolls including a running web roll and a fresh web roll, a pasting brush movable from inoperative position to an intermediate position, means for 0 speeding up the fresh web roll, means for placing theroll in'splicing position adjacent to the running web, a timer moving in synchronism with the freshweb. roll and a circuit completing device adapted to operate after the fresh web roll 35 has been placed in splicing position and has made more than one full revolution to permit the brush. to press the running web against the fresh web roll to make a splice.

12. In a web supply mechanism, a rotatable 40 web roll support provided with rotating mechanism and adapted to rotatably carry a running roll and ar-placement roll, and control means for said rotating mechanism mounted on the support and adapted to rotatesaid support when-the run- 45 -ning roll is reduced to a predetermined diameter move the replacement roll into position forfmak-v ing a web join, means governed by the diameter of thereplacement roll for stopping the support 60 automatically when the periphery of the replacement roll reaches a position near the web running from the running roll, and a brush arranged to pressthe running web against the replacement rollto make the join. V

14. In a web supply mechanism, a support for a running web roll and a replacement roll having adhesive on its outer web end, means for accelerating the replacement roll to a peripheral speed substantially equal to that of the running roll, 70 web shifting means for moving a web from the running roll against the replacement roll, actuating means on the support and including a finger engaging each roll, and a timer moving in synchronism with the replacement roll and adapted 75 to cooperate with the said actuating means to control the operation of the shifting means when the running roll approaches exhaustion.

15. In a web supply mechanism, a rotatable support for a running web roll and a replacement roll, a motor for rotating the support to bring the periphery of the replacement roll near the running web, a web deflector adapted to press the running web against the surface of the replacement roll, feelers bearing on the rolls, and means governed by the feelers to start and to stop the motor and to control the operation of the web deflector.

16. In a mechanism for supplying a web to a printing machine, a rotatable carrier for supporting a plurality of web rolls and adjustable to receive rolls of varying length, means responsive to reduction of the running roll to initiate the operation of changing the web feed from a roll carried by one end of the carrier to a roll carried by another end of the carrier, means associated with each end of the carrier for initiating a phase in the web renewal operation in dependence on the angular position of the roll of the corresponding carrier, and a selector device for rendering the last mentioned means respectively operative in dependence on the positions of the carriers relative to a normal running position.

' 17. In a machine for splicing a running web, the combination ofa rotatable web roll support capable of supporting a plurality of web rolls including a running web roll and a fresh web roll, an electrical circuit, a pasting brush movable from inoperative position to an intermediate position, means for speeding up the fresh web roll, means for rotating the support to place the fresh .web roll in splicing position adjacent to the running web, and a push button so arranged in the circuit that it may be operated after the fresh web roll has been placed in splicing position and has made more than one full revolution to permit the brush to press the running web against the fresh web roll to make a splice.

18. In a machine for splicing a-running web, the combination of a rotatable web roll support capable of supporting a plurality of web rolls in-,

eluding a running web roll and a fresh web roll, an electrical circuit, a pasting brush movable from inoperative position to an intermediate position,

means for speeding upthe fresh web roll, means for rotating the support to place the fresh web roll in splicing position adjacent to the running web, a timer moving in synchronism with the fresh web roll, and a push button so arranged in the circuit that it may be operated after the fresh web roll has been placed in splicing position and has made more than one full revolution to permit the brush to press the running web against the fresh web roll to make a splice.

19. In a machine for splicing a running web, the combination of a rotatable. web roll support capable of supporting a plurality of web rolls including a running web roll and a fresh web roll,

a pasting brush movable from inoperative position to an intermediate position, means for speeding up the fresh web roll, means for rotating the support to place the fresh web roll "in splicing position adjacent to the running web, and means which are operated after the fresh web roll has been placed in splicing position and has made more than one full revolution, to permit the brush to press the running web against the fresh web roll to make a splice. i

20 In a web splicing device, the combination with means for supporting a fresh web roll, means for rotating the fresh web roll through its axis, a magneticclutchfor controlling the last named means, and means for supplying a current to the magnetic clutch gradually, to give a smooth acceleration to the fresh roll and a gradual deceleration.

21. In a web splicing device, the combination with means for supporting a fresh web roll, and means for rotating the fresh web roll through its axis, of a magnetic clutch for controlling the last named means, means for applying a current to the magnetic clutch gradually to give a smooth acceleration to the fresh roll, tension straps for engaging the said web roll. after splicing, and means for gradually throwing out the magnetic l5 clutch while the tension straps are also taking effect on'the roll gradually.

22. In a web splicing machine, the combination with means for supporting web rolls, including a fresh roll, and means for rotating the fresh roll up to web speed before splicing, "said means comprising a magnetic clutch through which power is transmitted to the center of the fresh roll, of means for causing said clutch to exert a retard ing force on said fresh roll after splicing.

23. In a web splicing machine, the combination with means for supporting web rolls, including a fresh roll, and means for rotating the fresh roll up to web speed, saidmeans comprising a magnetic clutch through which power is transmitted to the fresh roll, of means for reducing the volt- .age' of the current operating on said clutch after splicing, for the purpose described.

24. In a web splicing machine, the combination with means for supporting web rolls, including a fresh roll, means, including a magnetic clutch, for rotating the fresh roll up to web speed before splicing and for exerting a retarding force on the fresh roll after splicing, means for moving the supporting means after splicing to bring said roll toward running position, means for gradually reducing the voltage of the current operating on said clutch during such movement of the fresh roll to reduce the retarding action of the clutch progressively as said roll moves into running position, and tension means so placed thatthe tension' provided by them for the fresh roll gradually increases while said retarding action decreases.

25. In a web splicing machine, the combination of a bodily movable fresh web roll, means for moving the roll .to running position, means for rotating it on its own axis up to web speed, tension means in position for engaging the surface of said roll as it moves into running position, whereby .during said movement of the. roll the tension produced by the tension devices will gradually in-, crease, and means for operating said roll rotating means to apply a force to partially resist the ro-' tation of the roll after splicing in a gradually decreasing manner, whereby, as the tension means ing said retarding action as the roll moves toward running position.

27. In a web splicing device,- thecombination of two tensioning devices for a web roll, means whereby one exerts its retarding force on the circumi'erenceof the roll and means whereby the other exerts its retarding force through the axis of said roll of means for transferring the control of the web roll from one tensioning device to the other.

I 28. In a web splicing mechanism, the combination of a swinging arm, a rheostat having a contact arm connected to move with the swinging arm, a magnetic clutch connected with the rheostat so as to be under its control, a fresh web roll shaft, means for rotating said shaft through ac- ,tion of the magnetic clutch, whereby the moving of the swinging arm out of operative splicing position will move the contact arm to gradually deenergize said magnetic clutch and discontinue control of the shaft by the magnetic clutch.

29. The combination with means for supporting a running web roll in position to supply the web to a printing press, means for bodily moving the web roll, and means for reducing the speed of the web roll through its center, of tension straps so located as to apply their tension to the web roll, and means whereby when the web roll has been moved beyond a certain point the said speed reducing means will be thrown out of action.

30. In a web supply device, the combination with movable means for supporting a running web roll, of a tension device constantly operating onthe surface of said running'roll during the feeding of a web to a press therefrom, and additional means adapted to act on said roll through its central axis while the roll is under the influence of said tension device for stopping said roll when the press, to which said web is delivered, stops.

31. In a web supply device,-the combination with movable means for supporting a running web roll, of a tension device constantly operating on the surface of said running roll during the feeding of a web to a press therefrom, and additional means adapted to act on said roll through its central axis while the roll is under the influence of said tension device for retarding the rotation of the roll when the press stops witha running roll of large diameter.

32; The combination with a rotatable-roll, of two tension devices therefor, one in position to progressively act on the roll with increasing ten- 

